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5 preaching Means fighting
Similarly, Çré Rämänujäcärya and his followers achieved eternal
glory by risking their lives in speaking frankly. Such genuine
*
äcäryas not only accept honor and facilities or only talk “nicely”
about Kåñëa but also are committed to uphold, against all
opposition, the principles of their sampradäya—which entails
speaking vigorously not merely within one’s own group, but also
venturing out to deliver the message of Godhead to the misguided
and often inimical populace.
Çréla Prabhupäda’s own spiritual master was the legendarily
staunch Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, who preached so
unreservedly that his enemies tried to kill him. He shocked the
intellectuals of the day by his fierce, totally uncompromising
condemnation of anything less than unmotivated devotional
service to Kåñëa, who alone is to be recognized as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the proper object of worship. Many
responded by openly questioning his credentials as a sadhu. Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté replied through numerous speeches
and articles, explaining why a true sadhu must speak strongly. He
went on speaking contentiously throughout his life, not caring for
outside opposition nor even his own disciples’ dissatisfaction. As
†
Çréla Prabhupäda recalled:
When my guru-mahäräja was present, even big, big scholars were
afraid to talk with his beginning students. My guru-mahäräja was
called “living encyclopedia”—he could talk with anyone on any
subject. He was so learned—so we should be like that as far as
possible. No compromise—Ramakrishna, avatars, yogis, everyone was
enemy to guru-mahäräja. He never compromised. Some godbrothers
* For a summary of such pastimes of Rämänujäcärya and his followers,
see “The Äcärya’s Unequalled and Unsurpassed Greatness,” in Çré
Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava (vol. 3, p. 53).
† Descriptions of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté’s legendary staunchness
appear throughout Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava. For his stance on strong
speaking, see “The Revolutionary Preacher of Truth,” vol. 1, p. 135.